Improvement in roller-skates



f UNITEDV STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

HIRAM ROBBIN S, CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WM.

' R. MORRIS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEM ENT IN ROI- LER-SKATES.

` Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 102,9?1, datedMay 10,1870.

- To all whom it may conce/rn:

t Be it known that I, HIRAMV RoBBINs, of Cincinnati, 'Hamilton county,State of Ohio, have invented a certain new'and useful Improvement inRoller-Skates; and I hereby declarethe following to be a sufficientlyfull, clear, and exact description to enable one skilled in the art towhich my invention appertains toy make and'use it, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates lo the class of rollerskates in which the rollersare automatically radjusted to run in either straight or curved lines bythe natural motion ofthe body in the act of skating; and it consists, inconnection with swinging roller-trames connected by levers together, ot'a spring foot-pad and oscillating arc connected to and operating thelevers, the 'spring-pad serving not onlyito communicate-the pressurefrom the foot to the levers, but to return the levers to the centralposition after the pressure has been withdrawn from either side. Y

In the accompanying drawings illustratingV my invention, Figure 1 isaperspective view, andFig.2 a plan, of the under side-of the skate. Fig.3 isa cross-section of the skate, showing the spring and are device foroperating the levers. I

A is the stock of the skate, to which the roller-frames are attached.The stock is so constructed that the foot of the skater can rock or tilton it when thebody is leaned in turning curves. In other words, thestock is made V-shaped or crowning on the upper side.`

"I he rollers B are journaled in the fra-mes O C', and the frames arepivoted to the stock A at a a/V in such a manner as vto permithorizontal oscillation. The frames O O are connected together by leversc c', which cross each other at the ends, and are secured in the mannershown, for simultaneous vibration. The adjustment of the levers `c cserves to direct the wheels in straight or curved tracks7 agreeing withthe bodilymotion of the skater, and this 4adjustment is accomplishedautomatically by means of the following peculiar device.

The stock A is perforated at each side for the reception of the arc D,which rests upon the pin E, the latter being firmly secured to the leverc in the manner shown. A iiat steel spring, F, is riveted or otherwisesecured to thevcenter of the stock A, and rests upon the arc D at theends, as shown in Fig. 3. The spring AF receives the pressure of thefoot, and a preponderance of pressure upon either side, such as isproduced by the leaning of the body in skating a curve, serves to force(by means of the are) the levers c c to the opposite side to auextentagreeing with the bodily inclination and consequent amount of unequalpressure. When thepressure is relieved from either side by the removalof the foot from the floor or straightening up the body the spring Fserves to return the levers to the central position. t

I am aware that springs have been used in skates heretofore forreturning adjustable rollers to the central position, but the spring inthese serves no part in the automatic adjustment of the rollers fromside to side.

Iam also aware that the stocks of rollerskates have been so constructedas to permit of the rolling or tilting ofthe foot independent ofthestock, and that roller-frames connected by levers for simultaneousaction in swiveling have been used heretofore; but

What I claim herein as new and of my invention is- The spring-pressurepad F and oscillatingi

